A/N: Okay, so I guess I've recentlydeveloped more liking ofthis story. You see, I actually wrote the last chapter (or at least a huge chunk of it) and it's very exciting. Anyway, this, I believe, is one of my shortest chapters. Ever. There's a little bit of amusement in the end, so hang tight! This is an edited repost, btw… I forgot to proofread last time.
Disclaimer: I own nothing... especially not Harry Potter
Happy Reading!
Way Five: Show off your transfiguration skills! It's magic!
"Prongs, you can't give up now!"
"I can't do this anymore, Sirius, I can't!"
"Yes you can! You've got her wrapped around your little finger."
James gave Sirius a look of pure incredulity. James was sitting on his bed with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders and a steaming cup of hot chocolate (nicked from the kitchens courtesy of Sirius) in his hands. James had taken a sick day for the first time since fifth year after the aftermath of his atrocious Step Four. Not only did James feel terrible about not succeeding, he also felt as if he had violated Lily in some way.
"She left me on the floor of the common room, unable to move. You call that 'wrapped around my little finger'? I think you've got it backwards."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'd do anything for her." James said, staring down at his cup.
"Anything?"
James looked up at Sirius to see that he was suppressing a smile.
"Anything."
Sirius placed a hand gingerly on James's shoulder.
"The step up to the plate, Prongs, take step five!"
James sighed.
That night, James had a terrible nightmare; the kind that really only seems terrible if you're there to witness it. The dream started off as Sirius telling James that he was going to go and do his Arithmacy project with Lily. Then James, who was in search of the list that he seemed to have misplaced, walked into an empty classroom to see Lily and Sirius snogging vigorously. James would gasp and tell Sirius what a bad friend he was, and Sirius would insist that his homework involved finding a new sport and he and Lily had chosen "Tonsil Hockey". And then Peter would appear and pronounce Sirius and Lily man and wife while Remus sang "I told you so" over and over to the beat of the wedding song. Then James awoke, covered in a cold sweat, only to find that he still had hours until breakfast.
Later that day, as James was sitting in Transfiguration, a not-so-foreign thought came to mind.
The List…
James sighed, finished his work, and looked around the room. He knew that Lily was watching him out of the corner of her eye, so James began to shamelessly show off his transfiguration skills. Okay, well, there was a little shame, seeing as he had found the art of showing off more and more unappealing in the last few days, but he honestly felt no more shame than he had felt after taking step one. James turned his desk into a pig and back, then turned Bobby Prewett's quill into an eagle. Several people laughed as the eagle flew around in circles above Bobby's head, Lily and McGonagall excluded. James continued in this fashion until the Professor threatened him with lines unless he deflated his head a little. So, not yet feeling that terrible feeling of defeat, James sat back in his chair.
Once the bell had rung and the class got up to leave, James put in part two of his master plan. He snagged Sirius's quill and quickly transfigured it into a red rose. James approached Lily in the corridor and couldn't help but hide a nervous, sheepish smile that twitched in his lips. James held out the rose, marveling at how it was the exact shade of her hair, and she took it with shaking fingers. James smiled at her.
"I know I'm not supposed to touch you," James said suavely, "But your beauty is only comparable to something like this rose."
Lily tried to hide her smile, but her blush gave her away.
"Th-thank you," Lily said, holding the rose lightly to her chest, "Where did you manage to find it? There aren't any rose bushes around here."
"Transfigured it," James replied proudly.
Lily raised a brow at James and brushed a strand of hair away from her face with her finger.
"Transfigured it?"
"Yes. From a quill." James said.
"Right," Lily said slowly, "Well, thanks again."
"Yeah. No problem," James replied equally as slowly.
The two teenagers turned and began to walk in opposite directions. James suddenly spun around and called her name.
"Lily!"
Lily turned around in confusion, her brows furrowed.
"Yes?"
James's hand jumped to his hair and he ruffled it in the back uncertainly.
"I'm just, well, I mean… I'm sorry for attacking you the other day. I feel terrible about it." James finished lamely.
To James's surprise, Lily smiled softly. Her green eyes glittered in the pale light, and James felt his heart flutter lightly.
"Its okay, James."
James walked away slowly, holding back with all his might the urge to dance and sing on the spot. Instead, when Lily had disappeared from sight, James tightly hugged the first person he saw.
Unfortunately, this person also happened to be Snape.
o0o0o
"Does your nose feel any better?"
"Yeah, buch bedder."
"Are you sure?"
"I'b sure."
"Alright. Here, take this."
"Danks."
James gratefully accepted the tissue from Sirius as they walked up to the infirmary. His nose was bleeding profusely, and after inspection, the matron tsked lightly.
"Borken nose," she announced, "how'd you get this, Potter? Not more dueling, I hope?"
James and Sirius shared a glance before James turned back to the matron and laughed slightly, his nose spewing more blood onto his hands.
"No. Definidely nod."
A/N: I know, despicably short. But hey, who wouldn't want to give old Snivelly a big 'ol hug! This makes me wonder if he snivelled a lot, or if it just rhymed with Severus. Anyway, enough with that thought. Hee hee. I hope you liked this chapter!
